Venetian blind



March 12, 1946. J. c. RHODES VENETIAN BLIND Filed Oct. 23, 1944 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND Jay C. Rlodes, Seattle, Wash.

Application October 23, 1944, Serial No. 560,()16 4 Clalms. (c. 160-173) Venetian blind structures, to which the present invention relates, have been provided in different types, but substantially all of them basically include a header from which the blind is supported, ladder tape formations on which the slats are supported, and one or more lift cords which support the lower member of the blind and on which the slats gradually rest as the vertical length of the blind is decreased-this form of blind having the accumulation of inactive portions at the bottom instead of the top as in other forms, the zone at the top of the window generally carrying the means used to manipulate the ladder tape formations to provide the different transverse angularities of the slats-one of the broad characteristics of the form of blind known as theVenetan blind.

The ladder tape formations are generally similar in these types, comprising a pair of tapes extending vertically on opposite sides of the slats, with the tapes joined at regular spaced intervals by cross members secured at their end zones to the respective tapes, so that if the tapes are moved lengthwise relative to each other, the inclination of the cross members to the horizontal will be varied; various means have been provided for imparting the longitudinal relative movement to the tapes. In general practice, the slats seat upon the cross members and can be drawn out of the blind by a longitudinal movement of the slat, so far as the ladder tape formation is concerned.

The present invention relates more particularly to that type of Venetian blind in which the lifting cord or cords, when'in operative position, extend through the body of the slat, the latter being provided with an opening or openings through which the cord or cords extend; since the angularity of the slat is designed to be varied from the horizontal, the openings are generally sufficiently elongated to permit the angularity of the slat to be varied without affecting or binding the cord.

In the simpler form of the type the opening is generally an elongated closed slot in an intermediate zone of the width of the slat; since'the slot connes the cord, the latter prevents material endwise movement of the slats` thus preserving the symmetry of the blind, while the closed ends of the slot prevent the cord from moving out of its conned status, accidentally or otherwise. However, such structure has the disadvantage of requiring that the lifting cord be threaded through the slats, thus requiring more or less expert service in assembling the blind initially.

The greater difficulty comes, however, when it is necessary to clean an individual slat, or a plurality of slats, a frequent necessity since the accumulations of dust, etc.,possible spotting by rain, or physical contact, etc., tend to aflect the appearance of the blind, especially where the blind has its slat color such as to prevent hiding of discolorations. A single slat or a few slats may be involved, but to permit removal of the afiected slat or slats, it is necessary to remove them from the blind, a condition which requires that the lifting cord be unthreaded from the slats to be removed; since unthreading requires a free end of the cord, the unthreadng action practically requires disassembly of the lifting cord formation of the blind. After the slat is cleaned, the blind can be restored onlyby re-threading the cord. The same conditions apply if a slat is to be repaired, or a substitution of slats is required. In

other words, wherever it is necessary to remove a slat for any purpose, the cord must first be sufliciently unthreaded to release the slat to permit withdrawal of the slat, after which it is necessary to re-thread the cord after the slat has been returned.

Various ways have been contemplated for meeting this condition. For instance, it has been proposed to provide a slot with an open end at one edge of the slat; this solution has the disadvantage that should a slat be tilted sufliciently, the cord passes out of the opening permitting the slat to move endwise in an undesired manner; such tilt is approached when the blind is completely closed, and if a small outward pressure be applied to the inside of the closed blind, a slat or group of slats would be released; swaying of the blind at such time, could release slats since the cord is held taut by the weight of the lower member.

It has also been proposed to open one end of the slot by providing a kerf or other form of break in the continuity of the slat between such end of the slot and the inner edge of the slat, with the kerf or break alined with one of the sides of the slot; this would simulate a closed-end slot, but would have the disadvantage of requiring that the slat be given a twisting action sumcient to move one portion above the other at such kerf .edge to a distance sufficient to permit the passage of the cord-requiring a special manipulation of the cord at such point since the exit is then horizontal instead of vertical. However, while such proposal is presumably operative, it is necessary to utilize a metallic structure in connection with the unkerfed edge portion-a slat formed of wood could not withstand the torsional strain within the narrow unkerfed zone, since the wood fibres run lengthwise of the slat, and the twisting stress is applied transverse to such direction of length and therefore tend to separate the fibres; hence such form must have this zone of metal capable of withstanding the torsional strain; in fact, the particular form in question has the slat formed of separate pieces, and the slot zone carried by a metallic element which serves to connect the slat sections-this avoids placing the torsional Stress on the wood of the slat and places it on the metal.

Both of the proposals referred to present metallic structures which extend the full width of the slat and present the slot walls as part of the elementactually extending around the edges and being secured in position by the use of suitable tangs which penetrate the wood material of the slat, and thereby anchor the elements to the slat; while the cord, in service, is located within the slot of the element, it is necessary to move the cord out of the slot in order to permit removal or insertion of the slat from and to its Operating position resting on its particular cross members of the ladder tape formations.

The present invention solves the problem in a somewhat different way. The cord slot is provided by a metallic element which, in service, produces the effect of a closed slot, but which has one of its ends split; in the slat itself the slot is continued to and through its inner edge-thus forming an open-ended slot. The element is preferably slightly resilient and when out of the slat slot will tend to spring apart a distance sufllcient to permit free passage over the lift cord, but when positioned in the slat slot, the side walls of the latter will close the split end. Hence, in practice, both the cord and the element are taken from the slat slot by sliding the element outward for freeing the slat, or inward when positioning the slat. As a result, the lift cord is mounted in a closed slot in service, and the slat to be cleaned is composed only of the slat body; in addition, the slat is not subjected to strains or stresses when changed from one condition to the other, thus protecting the slat against injury, and providing complete exposure of the slat body for cleansing or repair purposes. The elements are readily threaded on to the cord, and then positioned in or removed from the slat slot, the frictional resistance of the side wall zones being sumcient to retain the element in its fixed position during the usual service functions of the blind; in addition, the cord is unafiected during the Operations, it being possible to permit the released element to rest on the slat below or be removed from the cord at will. In other words, the cord and its confining element are removable from and positionable relative to the slat, and have their movements combinedly when passing into or out of the operative co-operation with the slat, with the element readily positioned on or removed from the cord when the cord and element are out of such operative relationship with the slat.

The invention therefore has for its major object the provision of a Venetian blind structure in which the lifting cord, in service, is 'positively confined within the slat width, thus preventing material lengthwise movement of the slat and eliminating possibility of freeing the slat from the cord accidentally, while permitting intentional ready removal of the slat from such cord control without subjecting the slat to twisting or torsional strains; one advantage of this is found in the possibiiity of the use of comparatively thin slats of wood with resultant decrease in weight of the blind assembly, thus not only providing a less bulky appearance, but additionally permitting &896,435

freer entrance of air when the slats are positioned in their horizontal planes-providing these results without increasing liability of damage to the blind through service or when assembling or disassembling the blind in whole or in part; in addition, removal or positioning of a slat' for cleaning or repair is greatly simplified, with the slat body completely exposed for cleaning or repair.

Other and further objects will appear as the invention is hereinafter disclosed.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be readily apparent as the invention is better understood, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views,

Figure 1 is a view showing, in vertical section, a' portion of a Venetian blind structure, with the section taken on a line through the slat openings for the passage of a lift cord.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slat portion showing the cord confining element in service position.

Figure 3 is a similar View but disclosing the cord conflning element removed from the slat to free the slat.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2, with parts shown in section.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Since Venetian blind structures of this general type are well-known through their use for many years, and the fact that the present invention pertains more particularly to the slat zone within 40 which the lift cord extends in service, the drawported on the cross members Ha of the ladder tape formation I l, the latter being of well-known structure; the whole being supported from a header (not shown): the means for providing' the relative movements of the ladder tapes is not disclosed, since it may be of any one of a number of well-known forms. The slats n rest on the cross members lla, the relative'movement of the tapes determining the angularity of the slats relative to the horizontal.

An intermediate portion of the lift cord I 2 is shown, the end zones being omitted, since the base member and the means for retaining the cord in adjusted position are also well known and may be of any of a number of forms in use. As

indicated in Figure 1, the lift cord extends vertically through openings in the slats, the openings generally being elongated, since the angularity of the slats is variable while the cord extends vertically. The simpler form of commercial practice of such blinds has the opening or slot positioned at an intermediate portion of the slat width with both ends closed-an arrangement which prevents a slat from escaping from the cord, but such structures require threading of the cord through the slats when assembling, and also when it is desired to clean or repair any of the slats of the blind, at which time the nonsecured relatlon between a slat and its supporting cross members Ha would permit the slats to be turned sumcient to pass the cord and thus free theeslat for withdrawal or positioning by an endwise movement, but the presence of the closed ends of the opening prevents this and it is necessary to thread the cord through the successively positioned slat openings. Obviously. the reversal of this is required to permit an intermediate slat to be removed.

The solution to this problem presented in the present invention is made clear from the drawing. As indicated in Figure 3, the openings in the slat o is in the form of a slot IOa which extends to and through the inner edge of the slat. The inner closed end of the slot has a desired configuration-shown as approximately straight, but which obviously may be curved. The elongated sides, of the slot are preferably parallel or approximately so-a slight increase in width of the slot may be permissible, but inasmuch as an increasing slot width toward the open end could permit ready release of the cord-confining element presently referred to under low pressure conditions, the preference is for the pa'allel sides to tend to prevent accidental separation of the element from the slot.

Co-operative with the slot is a cord-conning r element !3. This is an elongated formation, preferably metallic, which is designed to be removably applied to the slot wa, in applied position` a cross-section thereof gives the appearance of an eyelet mounted in the slat, as indicated in Figure 5, due to the outward fianging of the margins of the vertical body portionas indicated in the drawing; however, the eyelet is elongated, having a length approaching or equaling the length of slot Ilia. One end of the element is split vertically, preferably at an intermediate point of the end, permitting the element to be opened as in Figure 3, a distance suilicient to permit the passage of the cord into the interier of the element.

The element thus has a form adapted to be produced from sheet materialyand in practice the metal is preferably slightly resilient, or so formed as to provide a spring effect sufiicient to open the split end to the position shown in Figure 3, when the element is free of slot Ina: by' such formation, the positio'ning of the element relative to the slot will not only close the 'elementas in Figure 2-but the vertical walls will tend to exert an outward pressure on the side walls of the slot to produce a friction eifect between the element and such walls and thus tend to retain the element within the slot; the friction required is not great. since the width of the element slot is sufilciently greater than the diameter of the cord as to provide loose travel of the cord therethrough, and when the slats are turned to their closed position (practically the only time when the cord would provide pressure on the slitted end in a direction to Shift the element) the opposite end wall of the element is also in contact with the cord to prevent material shifting of the element in the slot-in such position of the slat, the inclination in t e width of the slat is such that withdrawal of the element would need to be at such an acute angle to the cord as to require practically downward pull on the element, a difrom the slot accidentally. And it is obvious that while the split end of the element is shown` as located at the outer end of slot illa, the element may have the split end at the inner end of the slot. In either case, the element-if out of the slot-would have the split end closed by pressure of the fingers at the time the element is entered into the slot, thus permitting ready entrance of the element into the slot; with the resilient form. and with the split end outward, the tension (provided by closing the split end) would tend to move the sides of the element into the frictional status with the sides of the slot.

. As indicated above, the ends of the element may be straight with rounded corners (as shown) or may be curved. While not shown it is obvious that the flanges of the closed end-especially with the curved end form-may, if necessary, be provided with a small radial kerf of slightly tapered form to permit the spring action; this is a well-known expedient, and the extent of outward Swing would be limited by the kerf walls; or the fianges at such end zone may be completely omitted to permit free spring action.

As will be'understood, the underlying characteristic of the present invention is the presence of a cord-confining element carried by the slat and which serves to provide the effect of a closed loop for the cord in service, and the element so mounted relative to the slat that it is bodily removed from the slat with the cord whenever the slat is to be freed for removal from the blind; the element has one of its ends split to permit opening of the loop when the element is removed from the slat, thus permitting ready positioning of the element on the cord without requiring manipulation of a cord end, such as would be required if it were necessary to thread the cord through a closed slat slot. In other words, the cord, in service, is conned against accidental removal, and may be partially so when out of service position-the element may remain on the cord; the inactivity of the cord to prevent endwise movement of the slat is obtained by removing the cord-conflning element from the slat, such action carrying the cord with it. Obviously, this leaves the slat completely exposed for cleaning or repair.

While I have herein disclosed the invention in a preferred form, and indicated possible changes. it will be understood that changes or modifications therein may be found desirable or necessary in meeting the various exigencies or service conditions or the desires of users, and Itherefore desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications therein as may be deemed essential or desirable, insofar as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accomnanying claims, when broadly construed.

I claim:

1. In Venetian blind structures. wherein the slats are supported by tape-ladder formations to provi e the angular lateral adjustments of the slats, wherein the active vertical length of the blind is controlled by a bottom support positioned by one or more lift-cords, and wherein the liftcord is located within the slat travel path in service, the comhination with such structure, of means for confining the lift-cord within the slat path for service activity, said means comprising a slot within each slat, the slot having an open end and extending normal to the length of the slat, and a cord-confining element for and mounted in each slot and bodily removable therefrom with the cord to facilitate tree endwise movement oi' a slat relative to its position within the blind.

2. structure according to claim 1 wherein the cord-confining element is in the form of an elongated loop split at one end to present a terminal throat which, when the loop is removed from the slot. may .be opened to accommodate a. passage of the cord therethrough from or into the eye of the loop, said slot of the slat having substantially parallel side walls adapted, when the loop is placed in the slot for service, to compressibly bear upon the loop to close the throat and confine the cord within the eye of the loop.

3. structure according to claim 1 wherein the cord-conflning element is in the form of an elongated loop split at one end to present a terminal throat which, when the loop is removed from the slot, may be opened to accommodate a passage of the cord through the threat from or into the 20 eye of the loop, said slot of the slat having substantially parallel side walls adapted, when the loop is placed in the slot for service, to compressibly bear upon the loop to close the threat and confine the cord within the loop, said loop having oppositely positioned flanges adapted to overlie the slat body in the vicinity of the slot walls during service activity to prevent movement of the element in the direction of thickness oi' th slat.

4. structure according to claim 1 wherein the cord-confining element is composed of a resilient material and is in the form of an elongated loop split at one end to present a terminal throat which, when the loop is removed from the slot, may be opened to accommodate a passage of the cord through the throat from or into the eye of the loop, said slot of the slat having substantially parallel side walls adapted, when the loop is placed in the slot for service, to compressibly bear upon the loop to close the throat and confine the cord within the loop, said resiliency of the loop, when the loop is seated within the slot, exerting a yielding expansion pressure from the sides of the loop to the side walls of the slot to frictionally resist dislodgment of the loop from the slot.

JAY C. RHODES. 

